I got 2 coralife 36" fixtures real good deal used. The bulbs are probably real old, was looking to replace them. Was wondering what to replace them with. The fixture has a 150w metal halide in the center and 2-65w PC actinic, with two moonlights, I am running them together on my 6 foot 125gallon mixed reef. I have a few soft corals and a few lps. Did not plan on any sps corals. Was wondering what would be the best combination of bulbs? Or would I be better going back with my three 6 foot VHO's with a single 660 ice cap ballast. Thanks Tom
Bulb recommendations.
- Thread starter tenderuc
- Start date
buffalo123
New member
I would think T5s would be better judging from the amount of hobbyist now using them.
It seem everyone want to know what bulb combo is best and what brand bulbs to get. Thats an ongoing thing on the boards. What one person think is a great bulb or combination of bulbs someone else think its a poor choice for some reason.
It seem everyone want to know what bulb combo is best and what brand bulbs to get. Thats an ongoing thing on the boards. What one person think is a great bulb or combination of bulbs someone else think its a poor choice for some reason.
mordibv
Active member
Try phoenix 14k or xm 10k or 20k de bulbs for the halides . As for the power compacts . UV is making the same flavor bulbs in pc use . Not sure when the 454 is going to market for the pc's . Check with PA for the 454 bulb . They are a sponsor and provide good service .
Here's the link
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=UV-compact
Here's the link
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=UV-compact
Two halides in the small coralife reflectors over a 6 foot reef tank is not going to cut it. Most reefers would use 3 halides when using the better halide reflectors (lumenarc, Lumenmax, Lumenbrite etc) which have far better spread than the coralife reflectors. Even if you wont have any high light corals, the two halides and those reflectors arent going to give you enough coverage to provide aqueqate light throughout the tank and I dont think the 4 65 watt PC's will add enough additional light. And the halides are 150 watts to boot.
You bought the fixtures and sounds like you are intent on giving it a go but personally I would have gone with something different. Best you can do with what you have in the way of getting as much par as possible is to use all high par bulbs. 10K halides and white PC's, That will give you the most possible par from what you have but the tank wont have a blue look.
I would plan on making sure the highest light corals are positioned so they are within the halides best coverage areas.
You can go with 10K halides and then blue PC's and lose some par but the PC's would help to add some blue tint to the tank. If you go that route, stick with the 460nm PC's, not the 420nm. The 460's have more par and will go farther in bluing up the halides than the 420nm pcs' which arent very bright.
If the halides were 250 watt, you have more options for bluer halide bulbs that have good par, like the Phoenix lamps. But the 150 watt halides generally arent par monsters anyway, so sticking with the whiter lamps is the best bet in your situation where you are looking to maximize light with what you have to work with.
Maybe you can find a way to add a 3rd halide pendant. Eventhough the spread is limited with those coralife fixture halide reflectors, adding a 3rd and spacing all 3 out evenly would go a long way in giving you more uniform coverage from the halides.
If you upgrade in the future, plan on 3 of the highly regarded halide reflectors and then you can use any type of floruescent supplement lighting if you want to. But basically, you can cover the tank completely with 3 X 250 watt halides in good reflectors like those I mentioned above. If it is an 18" wide tank, the reef optix reflectors are also a good choice. Then flourescent lighting, either T5 or T12 VHO or even PC if you wish, can be used to supplement the halides (mostly for color).
Or, you can just go with all T5 lighting. Quality T5 lighting would be less expensive to set up than halides if you can use retros ... basically, if you have a canopy or if the tank is an in - wall.
If you need to go with a premade fixture, then there are tons of options at all varying prices ranges. But you generally get what you pay for in terms of performance.
Just my 2 cents.
One other suggestion and this may be the best option for what you are working with.
You can set up the rockwork so you have two "islands" centered under the two halides. Concentrate your corals accordingly on those two rock islands. Obviously that will conentrate the most light where the islands and corals are positioned.
You can set up the rockwork so you have two "islands" centered under the two halides. Concentrate your corals accordingly on those two rock islands. Obviously that will conentrate the most light where the islands and corals are positioned.
I think you're right on the money here Dar. This would give you the ability to keep SPS quite successfully in these areas especially if the rockwork is high and the fixture is low. I'd go with some 10Ks to get the most out of the 150s. You could then go with some 50/50s for the rest and be fine with LPS, IMO.
Does this setup conform to conventional wisdom, no but I think you can make what you have work quite nicely. I think it would be different but in a good way. Without supplementing what you've got I don't think you'll be able to get that deep-water look and grow coral though, so if that's what you like maybe you should reconsider. Just personal preferences but I'm partial to the more crisp white mid-day reef anyway.
FWIW I def think you're better off with your new setup than 3X6' VHO. You'll have a lot more options now.
mordibv
Active member
Not trying to pick on anyone .
I think this thread is getting off topic .
He did not ask about changing the fixtures . He asked only about bulb replacements .He got it for a good price .I'm sure he wants to use it He also stated he was not going to be keeping sps.
I do think that 2 mounds are a great idea . Again it's still not what was asked .
Now I really will be shocked if he is a she . So I apologize in advance .
I think this thread is getting off topic .
He did not ask about changing the fixtures . He asked only about bulb replacements .He got it for a good price .I'm sure he wants to use it He also stated he was not going to be keeping sps.
I do think that 2 mounds are a great idea . Again it's still not what was asked .
Now I really will be shocked if he is a she . So I apologize in advance .
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Skeptic_07
New member
i like phoenix 14k 150w also, nice colors. These guys are right though, you'll have 2 bright areas in the tank with darkness in the middle. Those fixtures were meant for smaller, 3 foot tanks. Since they were free, try just setting them up the way they are, before you spend money on lamps, to see if you like it.
Sorry, not trying to start a debate but in his second post (bump) he did ask ...
"Lot of people reading let me know what you think, or if I am way out of whack on the lighting for that size tank. Thanks Tom."
I dont think it's off topic at all. The OP is getting input on lamps as well as more complete lighting input for his tank. Everything he asked for based on the questions he asked in both of his first two posts.
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